Awning



A. BRUNS Sept. 23,1941.

AWNING Filed June 30, 1938v 4 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR Au u s 2 Br uns ATTORNEY.

A. BRUNS Sept. 23, 1941.

AWNING Filed June so, 1938 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 a n a n o uln- 1N VENTOR.

ATTORNEYS A. BRUNS Sept. 23; 1941.

AWNING Filed June 30, 1938 I 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 v INVENTOR. Aug 51 5 run 5 ATTORNEYS A. BRUNS Sept. 23, 1941.

AWNING 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed June 30, 1938 m IIHWIXHWJ m m a M l u OJ A Patented Sept. 23, 1941 UNITED STATES -PATENT OFFICE AWNING August Bruns, Richmond Hill, Jamaica, N. Y. Application June so, 1938, Serial No. 216,720 21 Claims. (Cl. 156-15) My invention relates to a new and improved awning.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide an improved awning having a series of metal sections or louvers, said section being vertically movable relative to the frame of a window or the like.

Another object of the invention is to provide improved means for manipulating said louvers.

Another object of the invention is to provide improved means for holding the louvers in their spaced position so as to prevent rattling.

Other objects are to provide a durable and simple construction which can be readily manufactured and applied.

Fig. 1 is a front elevation showing the improved device applied to a window frame, with the louvers close to each other.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation showin the louvers in their spaced position.

Fig. 3 is aside elevation similar to Fig. 2, showing the sections in their adjacent position.

Fig. 4 is a side elevation, on a larger scale than Fig. 2 and Fig. 3, showing the channel sections adjacent each other, and means for clamping the pins which are connected to the louvers, in order to prevent the parts of the device from rattling.

Fig. 5 is a partial front elevation of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a partial front elevation of the righthand side of the device.

Fig. '7 is a detail sectional view showing the mechanism for holding the channel sections firmly in clamped position, in order to clamp the pins of the louvers.

Fig. 8 is a section on the line 88 of Fig. 9, showing the channel sections spaced from each other so as to release the pins of the louvers.

Fig. 9 is a front elevation of Fig. 8.

While the improved awning device may be applied in any location, it is shown in Fig. l as applied to the frame F of a window W.

A pair of spaced vertical channels I and 2 are located at the right-hand'side of the frame (referring to Fig 1) so as to form a first vertical guide. A pair of similar spaced channels 3 and 4 are located at the left-hand side of the frame F of the window W, in order to form a second guide.

The channels I and 2, and the means accessory thereto, are identical with the channels 3 and 4 and the accessory means thereof.

As shown in Fig. 4 and Fig. 7, arms or box-like brackets 21 are connected to the rear vertical channel 4. These brackets 27 are provided with rear channel 4 by means of rivets 211). In the specific embodiment disclosed, three brackets 21 are connected to the rear channel iron 4, but there may be any suitable number of such brackets. As shown in detail in Fig. '7, the front Wall ,to the inclined front walls of the brackets 21.

For this purpose the said walls are provided with tapped openings or recesses. Screws 28 hold the respective leaf springs 29 in position, as shown in Fig 7. Each screw 28 has a smooth or .unthreaded shank 28a, having a reduced inner threaded portion which is screwed into the tapped opening of the front end-wall of the bracket 21. The long arm of each angular portion 3| is provided with a longitudinal slot 30,

.which is also shown in Fig. 9.- The smooth shank of each screw 28 passes through a slot 3|]. The

springs 29 serve to resiliently hold the channel 3 against outward movement with respect to the brackets 21, and thus with respect to the channel .4, as well as to perform other functions hereinafter pointed out. As shown in Fig. 9, the width of each spring 29 is greater than the width of the respective slot 30.

The rear channel irons 2 and 4 are connected ,to the frame F by any suitable means, such as screws l4a, which are shown in Fig. 4. Therefore the rear channel irons 2 and 4 remain stationary. The front channel irons l and 3 are vertically movable, relative to their respective rear channel irons 2 and 4. Identical operating mechanism is used for moving the front channel enlarged heads 21a which are connected to the irons l and 3 vertically, relative to their respective rear channel irons 2 and 4. The channel iron 3 is shifted vertically relative to the channel iron 4 by turning an operating arm 34 the specific operation of which will be described hereinafter, but which broadly is as follows: When the operating arm 34 is in the down position shown in Fig. 7, the channel irons 3 and 4 are closest to each other so that the space M between the adjacent end-walls of said channels 3 and 4 is of minimum width, thus clamping the shanks of the pins fla between said adjacent end-walls of the channels 3 and 4. In the arm 34 which is shown in Fig. 9, the channel the up position of v mutuaemember 6. Short p sion'ed" so that they are clamped: between-the a pins 9a, thus permitting said pins 9a to move up and down freely in the space 4a.

As shown in Figs. 7 and 8, the channel iron 3 is provided with a U-shaped bracket 35, whose base is, connected to said channel iron 3 by means of rivets 35. The bent inner end'of the arm 3 passes through a suitable hole which "is provided in aside" face ofthe rear channe-iiron 4. The channel iron is-providedwith a1rein-- forcing piece db in order to provide an additional bearing for the inner bent end of the arm; 34. The base of the arm 34 is provided with a] provide a tube lat Reinforcing each end of the louvers are wishbone frames to havinglower 7 arms 8. The apex of each frame 8a is pinned to its respective louver 5 by a pin 1 projecting '5 into a respective tube. fa.

each frame 8a is pinned to its respective louver The upper rear of 5 by the hereinbefore described pins l0 projecting into the tubular members E. At the rear of each arm 8 is a pin 9a extendingin a direction parallerto the pins land between the respective-pairs of chann els i andd; and 3 and 4 as shown in Fig. 4. As explained herein above, the pins It and 9a cooperate with the pairs of channels to guide the louvers 5 in their U-shaped crank-extension 33, inwardly of thmuifand down movement, and the pairs of chanchannel iron 4, and said extensiorn abuts the top andbottom arms of the bracket 35. There fore the channel iron 3 can be sli-iiftd'irertically relative to the channel iron 4, by turning the arm 34. Similar means are provided for shift- 2 ing thechannfiiron I eastwar the cli'ahr'iel inclined butwardly relati ve to th-ver tical plane,- V

saidiriclihd faces-act ascan'i mmbers i-incomth the iabuttin'g long arms- 0f the ans of}? th'e member 2'1. The lateral movement ofthe channel's increases the ccarnpression of the springs-23 which -friction aliy =h'old the channel 1 ha upper position shown in Fig!- 8} a of' the pins Qd- Rlf'e'rririg to ig-: 4; the-awning comprises a rust The inner-an out'er surf aees -of these muvers e may b ptSHshew so that the unave high reflecting power. These louvers' 5 are prf- I erably--cur ved-into paraboli'c ShapeQalthough they respective 'ends of eacH- tube 6- The pins I0 any; slid-abl e' betwee'n' the *r'espectivepairs'pr cha n'e'lirons, evenwhensaidphanne'l was I are} inthe" clamping positionshown n 34 is-turried from the up 'posi 5 mm a l'b.

'n '--the adjacent eno-walls of the to hold the' louver's, w

; nels clamp against the pins ea to hold the louvers 5 in adjusted position. 7

- Whenth louv'rs'are in the position shown in Figwl anct Fig. 3, adjacent louvers abut and are close to each other. Whi'h b a cofd ofi jchain or cable is connected at Ma to the bottom louver 5. As snowrr hou frame of the window by: means 1 er screws: l 4.

The pulley-housing i3 abuts a second housing-i wan ther'eor by meansforzscrews l 6; The: screws: 7

' a part 0i th long so' -ifi oah als'o enter the frame Ofthe window.

As shown in Fig'. 1; the fl'exible' meirfber i i :has' a top horizontal run which passes? slidabl-"yft I I me'r'nber ltpa'sse's around a second' -pulleylqfl the top andbottoni of--the outer inclined face-gg which is pivotally mounted at flfiin a seconri pulley hous'ing i 1; wh i'ch' is' confiected by means of screws mite th'e 'fra'ma" orz'th'ez window. Theright-hand verticalsrun of the ifiexible -member ;H jean: be wound around 'aisuitable hOk -Ol around a pulley 23"which"is -'turnab1y mounted at 24 inth'e housin'gill;

Referring xto Fig. 1, the? right h'an'd vertical A run of 'the 'ifiexiblexmember l2 is connected to the" bottom louver T5 at a p'ointwhich -'is on the: same-horizontalline as tne point' -l la; The left-w hand "run of theme'mber lins-adjacent the right hand run of thememberrl i3 Hence-#tlie -operator 'can pull' dowriwardly'upon theadjacent runs louvers' from the p'ositi'on shown "in: Fig: 12 to thepos'i-tiort- 'shown in:- Fig 3 "and the adjacent run's of the members i i I and" I2 'can itn'enxbe :woun' In order 1 to lir ni t; the I =1 Kareem?dsifediclirvdlshappb downward movement of the louven chains-T er other flexible-members fifl' are- -connectcd to the around the member Hb.

arms "B at the points 38az In Fig. 1 it may be assumed that the louvel's have been raise'd' to ltheir rel'ati e top positions,

For convenience; either-pair of -channelirolfs' may' bedesig'natedas damping members-oi hold-f ing members which are movable relative to each th'er'and which are adapted to engageall 'the and every louver;

A flexible-member ll,

A second fiexiblehiember i2fpasses l'r'e shah irons =I and 3 inaybe mcved v hen the 'loiivers" are i th' intermediate positiom'shbwn-imFig? 4. v 1

' m -Pi vention the members 9d"'may" be"considere'd as J7 l VF I ---1ts vver ehdi each louver Wisturned to *-"fdrrriing operative' p arts of the"louver's',' since the structure may be varied greatly without departing from the spirit of the invention.

As shown in Fig. 5, each member 9a comprises a' shank and two enlarged heads, the diameter of each head exceeding the maximum width of the space M, which is shown in Fig. 8. These heads may be detachably connected to the shanks in any suitable manner, so as to permit ready assembly of the members 9a with the channel irons and with the links or rods 8. Each pin I0 is also shown as having an enlarged shoulder which serves as a stop to limit the movement of the shanks of the pins into the tubular members 6.

Said shoulders may also be detachably connected to the shanks of the members I0;

When the louvers are in the position shown in Fig. 1, with the handles 34 turned to their up or release positions, the louvers are free to fall to the positions illustrated in Fig.2. This can be controlled by means of the adjacent runs of the horizontal members II and I2. The awning can be fully extended to the position as shown in Fig. 2 or it may be partially extended as shown in Fig. 4.

It is clear that I have provided a simple construction which can be made wholly of metal and which is simple and durable.

While the front channels I and 3 have been described as biased by the springs 29 to move towards the stationary rear channels, so as to clamp the holding members 9a of the louvers, since the springs 29 abut the long inclined arms of the projections 3|, it will be understood that other spring means may be provided for this purpose.

This embodiment shows a series of louvers,

namely, two or more. However, the invention also applies to a small awning which would only have two louvers and this is included within the claims whenever I refer to a series of louvers.

For convenience, I have described the device and identified the same in the claims, with reference to the vertical positions of the channel irons. However, the invention is not limited to said vertical position. Likewise, whenever I refer, in the claims, to the inclined front walls of the members 21, I include all equivalent cam means or the like, whereby the vertical movement of the first clamping member 3 relative to the second clamping member 4, will also produce the lateral movement of the first clamping memher 3 relative to the second clamping member 4.

The invention is not to be limited to the details of the preferred embodiment, as numerous changes and omissions can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. In an awning, a louver having a follower member, a first vertical and vertically movable clamping member, a second vertical and station ary clamping member spaced laterally from the first clamping member, said follower member being mounted to move vertically between said clamping members, the second clamping member having a laterally projecting cam member having a front face which is inclined outwardly to the vertical plane, the Wall of the first clamping member having an inclined wall-portion which substantially abuts said front face when the lat eral space between said clamping members is of predetermined minimum width, said clamping members being then located to hold said fol-- lower member against movement, a screw having a head, said screw having a shank which passes through a slot in said inclined wall-portion, the threaded end of said screw engaging said front face, said first clamping member being movable relative to the said shank, a spring between said head and said inclined wall portion, and adapted to urge said first clamping member towards said second clamping member, and'turnable means constructed to move the first clamping member up-and-down relatively to the second clamping member, said turnable means having a portion projecting beyond a side of said first vertical member, said cam and said wallportion being shaped to move the first clamping member laterally away from the second clamping member when the first clamping member is moved vertically relatively to the second clamping member.

2. -An awning device comprising a first pair of first upstanding members at the left-hand side of said device and a second pair of second upstanding members at the right-hand side of said device,'each said pair having one of its upstanding members located behind the other upstanding member of said pair, one upstanding member of each pair being vertically movable relative to the other and stationary upstanding member of the respective pair, a series of superposed louvers, the top louver having its upper edge connected to fixed means, the tops of the other louvers having their upper ends connected to supplemental means, said supplemental means being located between said pairs of upstanding members and being vertically slid-able relatively tosaid pairs of upstanding members, arms con-' nected at their outer ends to the lower ends of said louvers, the inner ends of said arms being connected to studs, said studs being located between said pairs of upstanding members and being vertically slidable relative to said pairs of upstanding members when the upstanding members of each pair are spaced apart predetermined distances, said studs being spaced laterally outwardly relative to said supplemental means, the stationary upstanding member of each pair and the respective movable upstanding member having cooperating cam means constructed to move the vertically movable upstanding member of each pair towards the stationary upstanding member of the respective pair when the movable upstanding member is moved vertically relatively to the stationary member so as to clamp said studs between the pairs of upstanding mem-,

bers.

3. In an awning, blind or the like of the type lowing means, operatively associated with said framework, connected to the inner upper edges of said louvers for guiding the same in a common vertical path, a rigid structure supporting the outer and lower edges of said louvers and maintaining the angularityof said louvers, said structure having following means operatively associated with said framework, and separate track means for said louver connected following means and said structure, said track and following means being spaced to permit non-interfering movement of said following means, said louvers and louver supporting and guiding means being proportioned to nest one within the other.

4. In an awning, blind or the like of the type described, a framework comprising sides,. each of said sides having horizontally spaced vertically extending track portions, at least three louvers J disposed one above the other in a common path stant inclihationin' and out "of "nestedposition;

5. Ii'r'jan" awnin b1i'ndor tli'edike of the type described; a framework comprising side portions,- each of, said side portions on opposite sides thereof havingivertical "longitudinally extending .portionsj in spaced relation defining -apair" oftracks',

at leastfthree 'louvers supportedior up? and "down i movement into "andout of nested fposition irr'the same common path; and fmeans connected "with" '20 said; louversfor 'guidin fthe inner 'a'rrdouter'ed'ges' of"'said 'louvers 'and fmaintaining the inclination" tnere'of'in all positions;i"said means operatingjin" said' tracks'.

v era louver adapted to e be guided ror" up and down movement into j'and'out'of nesting arrange ment "witlrsimilar louvers; comprising a relative- 1y rigid body'portionhaving generallytrapezoidal j shapej' means for maintaining said' louverfin" a substantially constant. angular position with" ref erence j to a horiz'ontaLplanef and substantially vertical 1 guiding and "supporting" means located set relation to each other to permit 'nes ting' with i similarlouvers'. V 7. Iri'an awning, hlind'bfthelike of the type 1 described; a framework," plural 'guideways'definedin said frameworkfat least three 10uvers'..sup= ported'forup anddjoivii 'mov'ement'inr saidguideways; said louvers including .rn'eans operating inso saidguideways and lioldi'rigsaid 'louvers"in posi- I times of substantially constant inclination 'fdiiring. up and'down 'niovement-insaid 'jguideways; said I louvers and their "associated guiding means be ing constitutedfas' a'runitary structurejand'beirig ,45

of'fa'sh'apeandconfigurationftopermit nesting? J s in construction prime type describedf a' pair of spacedfframe" members,"spacedlcingitudi naledge portions constituting apart of each ofsaid 'frame'members anddefining parallel guide ways therein in; offset relation, at least three louvers disposed bet'we'ensaid'irame members, I

and-guiding andsupporting means" for" said" louvers attached' at theerids thereof and-operat 7 ingin" said guideways" to--support" said louvers 'in adjusted positions alon 'Sai'd guideways, said" tion' 'viitli one another, wherebysaid louvers' may" 91- n an' auming iblind-or similar construction, a-pairf spaced'framefmembers each having ver tic al guideways defined therein; at'least three louvers supported. in 'said' guideways' forupand? down movement, said 'louvers' being inclined with their" upper inner edges located between =said frame members', means guiding said upper inner edgescin" sai'd-sguideways, and guidingmean's for' engaging with saidiguidewaysand supporting-saidl louvers in positions-of substantially?constaiht-i clination with reference to a' horizon ta planestheiower outerledge's ofsaid-louvefs being wider than" said up'per' ed'g'es; s-aid fi rstand secon'd means being 'inqa laterally offset' -relatior r t'o p'er-- 1 mitasaid 1ouver's;toinest?:-

, 10-2111 aniawningi or Jbl-ind construction orwe like; frame-members eaclidefining a pair fof Ver c tical guideways'irr ofi'set relationj at "least-three" Iou ersadapted tQbe guided and supported; in

said guidewa'ys {orup and down movement, and" means upon"said"'1ouvers and :'operating 'in' said V guideways'; saidm'eansbeing insimilar' ofis'etre lation'iwherebvsaid louvers" may nest.

1 1. Iii-"arr awning device; at least threeawning m'embers;" means-forguiding'said' awning; mem bers along a"common path intovand' out of nesting relation, meari's'forsupporting said awning mem+ bers indefinite spatedrel'ation and out of nesting; relationimembersfatopposite ends f said awning members"fdr-suppo rtingi and'guiding said awning members and for maintaining Saidtrwnin'g man 7 hers iinfixed angular relationito a horizontal plane, trackmeans Within'fwhi'ch said vmembers i operate, v.saidi members being offset from each other so as? to "enabl'etlre'nesting' f the awning members-,1; v

12; Iriia'n 'awr-i'ing,'loli'rid' or similar structure having? 'at least-three angularlyv disposed louvers guidedand supported for vertical movement into and out-of nested relation, Vguidingi'structure' for sai'dlouve'r's comprising inner and upper follower members" at each endlfofeach louver for guiding a the tops thereoffverti'al guideways at opposite ends of saidlouvers withlrwhi'ch' said follower members coact,outer and lower follower members at 'eachfend! fof Teach louver fdrmaintaining the angularity; o'f' each" louver; additional vertical l guideways adjacent saidi first guideways with which Isaidf outer and lower follower members coact, said respective gu'ideways and associated follower members \beingiina laterally offset re1ationisoasto enable substantiallycomplete nesting of .the lduvers 13; an -awningzdevice comprising an awning I member rneans on-r-oppositeends of saidawningdefin ng guideways,- follower: means upon said aW-ning member operating in said; guideways,

means fo r-r adjustabLysupportingsaid awningmember at a plurality;- of operative points along 7 said gnidewayspandsmeans for clamping saidfollower :members against-movement at all positions of-adjustmentalong said guidevvayss .lfl An :awnir-ig device; comprising side: frames in-theformof 'spaced cl annel members defining I guideways a plurality fsawning'members havl ingw-iollo-wer means-" at their opposite-ends op'eratingsin saidguideways; means for supporting said members in differentoperativez'positions of: adjustment alongsaid guideways," said channel 7 members s being imovablei relatively to each other,

and means-for selectively efiecting relative moves 1 ment between said channels so as to vary; the

spacing: thereof to' clamp-Js'aid *followers against I movement dilfEIBIIlILDOSifi'OIl'S oft adjustment or; said: awning, im'embers; v

15-; In anrg-awmng device; a pluralityiofwsuper imposed "awning; members; means constituting a common; guidingjitracksfor said awning members for -up; andti down: adjustment-rand. means for simultaneously; lockingzasai'd iawningnmembers' in l -difierentsoperativeipositionssof adjustment alongr saidlztracka' A iezin an :awning' device;:the eombination witn I m'em bers freely movable l V f6 engaging said awning members with" said-' meinbers'; means for supportingsaid members' in different positi'ons -of adjustment} and o means, atflwillfior simultaneouslythe same in=a plurality of' oper'ativeposi tions of adjustment along their path of movement.

17. A device of the character described for supporting and guiding awnings or the like having laterally projecting guiding portions, which comprises a structure at each side of said awning or the like, each structure comprising a pair of members one being fixed and the other being movable, said members being spaced apart to provide a channel in each structure, respectively, for receiving said guiding portions, operative structure for moving each movable member toward its associated fixed member and against said guiding portions, in any position of adjustment of said guiding portions, and spring means for resiliently holding each movable member against said guiding portions.

18. A device of the character described for supporting and guiding awnings or the like having laterally projecting guiding portions, which comprises a structure at each side of said awning or the like, each structure comprising a pair of members one being fixed and the other being movable, said members being spaced apart to provide a channel in each one of said structures, respectively, for receiving said guiding portions, said movable members being mounted for movement toward and away from said fixed members and also longitudinally with respect to said fixed members, camming means associated with said movable members for camming said movable members toward said fixed members into clamping relation with said guiding portions, in any position of adjustment of said guiding portions, operative structure for actuating said camming means, and means for resiliently holding said movable members against said guiding portions.

19. A device of the character described for supporting and guiding awnings or the like having laterally projecting guiding portions, which comprises a structure at each side of said awning or the like, each structure comprising a pair of members one being fixed and the other being movable, said members being spaced apart to provide a channel in each structure, respectively, for receiving said guiding portions, mechanism including a lever pivotally mounted in each fixed member and operatively associated with each movable member, respectively, for moving each movable member towards its associated fixed member and against said guiding portions, in any position of adjustment of said guiding portions, and spring means for resiliently holding each movable member against said guiding portions.

20. A device of the character described for supporting and guiding awnings or the like having laterally projecting guiding portions, which comprises a spaced structure at each side of said awning or the like, each structure comprising a pair of members one being fixed and the other being movable, said members being spaced apart to provide a channel in each one of said structures, respectively, for receiving said guiding portions, said movable members being mounted for movement toward and away from said fixed members and also longitudinally with respect to said fixed members, camming means associated with said movable members for camming said movable members toward said fixed members into clamping relation with said guiding portions, in any position of adjustment of said guiding portions, and mechanism including a crank pivoted in each fixed member for actuating said camming means.

21. In an awning or blind construction or the like, at least three relatively rigid louvers, plural guideway means for supporting said louvers for relative up and down movement, guiding and supporting means upon said louvers operating in said guideways to support said louvers constantly in similar positions in all positions of adjustment, the shape and configuration of said guiding and supporting means enabling said louvers to nest one within the other.

AUGUST BRUNS.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION. Patent No. 2,256,609. September 25, 1914.1.

AUGUST BRUNS. 4

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed speci ication of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 5, see- I 0nd column, line 66, claim 5, after the word "structure" and before the comma insert '-fol1owing means; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the rec- 0rd of the casein the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 18th day of November, D. 191m;

Henry Van Arsdale, (Seal) Acting Commissioner of'Patents. 

